PPE for electrical work

In the safety hierarchy, personal protective equipment (PPE) is always the last line of defense — after elimination (de-energizing), engineering controls (shielding) and administrative controls (work permit, procedures). PPE compensates for the residual risk that remains once all other measures have been taken; it never replaces them.

Insulating gloves — class 00 to 4 (IEC 60903)

Class	Max. use voltage (AC)	Proof-test voltage	Typical use
00	500 V	2,500 V	Low risk, low voltage
0	1,000 V	5,000 V	Standard low-voltage work (230/400 V)
1	7,500 V	10,000 V	Lower medium voltage
2	17,000 V	20,000 V	Medium voltage
3	26,500 V	30,000 V	Higher medium voltage
4	36,000 V	40,000 V	High voltage

The maximum use voltage must always be well above the nominal voltage of the installation — never pick the lowest class that is "just enough." For class 1 and above, always wear leather over-gloves over the rubber insulating glove: they protect against tearing, cutting and abrasion, which the insulating layer itself does not.

Checks: visual inspection + air test (rolling up and checking for leaks) before every use, plus a periodic laboratory test per IEC 60903 — see periodic inspection for the full test interval table.

Arc-flash clothing — arc rating vs. incident energy

The required arc rating (cal/cm², IEC 61482 / NFPA 70E) follows from the calculated incident energy at the workplace, not a fixed rule per installation. See the full table and calculation logic in arc flash — risk, energy and PPE.

Important maintenance point: never wash arc-flash clothing with fabric softener — it degrades the flame-retardant fiber treatment and reduces the arc rating in a way that is invisible on the garment itself.

Insulated hand tools (VDE / IEC 60900)

Hand tools for work on or near live parts must:

Comply with IEC 60900, identifiable by the double-triangle symbol with the stated voltage class (usually 1,000 V AC).
Be visually inspected before every use for cracks, cuts or discoloration of the insulating layer.
Be immediately taken out of service and replaced upon visible damage — even a small nick makes the tool unfit for use, regardless of remaining test validity.

Safety footwear: insulating vs. antistatic

This distinction is often confused, even though the functions are opposite:

Sole type	Protects	Marking requirement
Electrically insulating (EN ISO 20345)	The wearer against electrocution — prevents current flowing to earth	Separate insulation marking
Antistatic (ESD)	Electronic equipment against discharge from the wearer — deliberately conducts static charge away	ESD symbol

An insulating shoe and an antistatic shoe are never the same shoe: one blocks current flow to earth, the other promotes it. Choose based on the dominant risk at the workplace (electrocution hazard vs. ESD-sensitive equipment).

Face shield and eye protection

An arc-rated face shield (with a stated cal/cm² value) is not interchangeable with a standard welding shield or a polycarbonate splash shield — those are not tested against the heat and pressure wave of an arc flash and fail under actual load.

Shielding materials

Rubber insulating mats and insulating blankets are used to shield adjacent live parts (see step 5 of de-energized working) and to stand on during live working. Like gloves, these are periodically tested and visually inspected before use.

Common mistakes

Wrong glove class for the voltage present — often underestimated in medium-voltage work.
No leather over-glove at class 1 and above, causing the insulating glove to sustain mechanical damage faster.
Antistatic shoe confused with insulating shoe — an ESD shoe offers no protection against electrocution.
Arc-flash clothing washed with fabric softener, silently voiding the arc rating.
Damaged PPE used anyway "for just this one job" — any visible damage means immediate removal from service.

PPE for electrical work — overview and classifications